Overview

Formula E is the world’s first electric street racing series, defined by real street rivalries, raw electric performance, and renewable energy within reach. Formula E is disruptive in motorsport, redefining the very boundaries of what a sport can be through the unique fusion of entertainment, sustainability, technology and innovation. We are fighting climate change by offering electric vehicles as a solution to air pollution in city centres and breaking down the barriers to the electric vehicle market: Technology, Perception and Infrastructure.

We are not just a race! We are a technological and sustainable development test bed for some of the leading companies in and out of motor racing to address mobility and environmental issues.

We believe that electric vehicles represent the future and are the answer to sustainable transportation and fighting climate change. However we acknowledge that in our push into the electric era and the transition towards low carbon societies, the power used needs to be low carbon too.

The concept of sustainability for Formula E is to reduce our footprint as much as possible and have a positive impact on both people and the planet:

Tyres: Our unique tyres are hybrids specially designed by Michelin, suitable for all weather conditions, last the entire race, and are all recycled at the end of the day!

Tracks: Formula E is the city street racing series, racing on temporary tracks in the hearts of some of the coolest cities in the world such as Mexico, Paris, Berlin, Montreal and NYC.

Spectators: Formula E is bringing the race to our fans in city centres to encourage the use of public transports, that’s why we don’t offer parking spaces. We also have a great online platform where fans can watch the race live and in 360°!

Calendar: Our race map has been designed to have a cluster approach region by region to optimise our freight in order to use more boat or road freight and less place, thanks to our Official Logistics Partner, DHL.

We are pioneering the transition towards smart cities and low carbon economies, societies, and transportation by bringing electric vehicles to the forefront of people’s minds and making them aware of the huge environmental, social and economic benefits this can have on both people and the planet. Through the championship, our Legacy Programmes and digital channels, we wish to raise awareness and inspire change in sustainable practises, and contribute to reduce global emissions and our impact on the environment.

Our philosophy is to pioneer and our belief is that the future of sustainable mobility can be expressed in 5 words:

Electric: We want to show how electric vehicles are the future of sustainable transportation, the key to lowering global emissions in the transport industry and a solution to air pollution in city centres.

Clean: We are supporting the transition to low carbon economies, societies and transportation through the advocacy of clean fuels. Our cars are charged by a 0% emission and 100% renewable glycerine fuel and we are committed to RE100, powering the races with 100% renewable energy by season 5.

Connected: We wish to drive the future of fully integrated smart cities and utilise technological innovation to enhance our behaviour when driving such as Qualcomm’s HALO wireless charging technology which is integrated into the BMW i safety and medical cars.

Shared: We encourage the use of public transport to all of our races, which is why we don’t provide parking at our events. From enhanced and cleaner public transport to the shift from individual ownership; we believe the future foresees the growth in electric vehicle sharing as a solution to reduce global emissions.

Driverless: We are constantly pushing the limits of technology in sports. Our new support race in season 3, the Roborace, puts driverless personalities under the ultimate test to accelerate their technological development.

What is sustainability?

The notion of ‘sustainability’ arose from the World’s first Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro in 1992:

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Brundtland Report for the World Commission on Environment and Development (1992)

Sustainability is about creating an awareness of our impacts on the people and the planet, to change behavioural patterns and innovate in ways to find solutions to environmental, social and economic issues, so that we can help to benefit the people and the planet today and in the future.

Air quality is one of the most pressing global issues of our time for human beings. The cities of the world contribute disproportionately to environmental damage, as they currently produce around 75% of carbon emissions. With the present energy intensive modes of urban development and the predicted addition of 3 billion more city-dwellers by 2050, highlights that we need to take quick and large scale action to limit climate change.

At Formula E we understand that these issues are interdependent. According to various reports from the UN, in 2015 the transport sector was responsible for around one quarter of energy related global greenhouse emissions from fossil fuel combustion, and one fifth of total energy use. The transport sector has the highest CO2 emissions growth of all sectors and is expected to grow one third by 2050.

Transport touches almost every one of our lives on a daily basis. Whether you are driving your kids to school, riding on the tube or bus to work, taking a flight to a well-deserved holiday destination. The importance of transport to economy and social wellbeing is undeniable, as is transports impact on the environment as a major contributor of damaging climate emissions and air pollution worldwide.

The UN states that:

“In order to support global reductions in CO2 emissions from the transport sector, technical innovation will have to go hand in hand with supporting policies…Improving the efficiency of new cars, from incremental technology improvements and hybridisation, at this rate would make it possible a 50% improvement in the average fuel economy of all cars on the road worldwide by 2050.”

UNEP Global View of Emissions Report states:

"That’s why here at Formula E we have stepped up to the challenge of sustainable mobility and made it our priority to improve air quality of the cities in which we race and reduce emissions from the transport sector through the research, development and promotion of electric vehicles, their infrastructure and encouraging the use of clean energy."

With the amount of cars set to increase by one third by 2050, and the rate that transport emissions are already growing, Formula E strives to reach out to a new generation of motor racing fans, to create awareness of these impacts and change perceptions towards the adoption of electric vehicles for a more sustainable and clean future. Not only this, but we wish to do it in style, making the electric vehicle market as competitive, fun and exciting as possible.